Central FC captain Darren “Chucky” Mitchell has swapped the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League for the fledgling Philippines Football League, as the bustling midfielder agreed a one year deal with Davao Aguilas FC earlier this week.

Mitchell, who played from the start in Trinidad and Tobago’s 2-0 friendly win over Barbados on 10 March, will be one of four non-Filipino signings at the club in accordance with league rules.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Darren Mitchell (left) meets young football fans of Davao Aguilas FC in the Philippines.

Davao coach Gary Phillips signed two players from his native Australia—goalkeeper Luke McDonald and midfielder Brad McDonald—and is expected to announce their fourth foreign player this week.

The move will leave Central without their captain for the upcoming Caribbean Cup tournament where the “Couva Sharks” will look to secure their third straight regional title to go along three successive Pro League crowns.

Mitchell, who was a free agent, is represented by Australia-based Zenith Sports and Event Management company whose local representative, Sheldon Scipio, is a former paramedic at Central.

He was arguably the Pro League’s most outstanding performer this season and returned his highest goal tally of nine league goals from 18 matches. His outing against Barbados was his third international cap for the Soca Warriors—all in friendly matches.

Spoke to a friend in the Philippines, the club owner also has a team in Australia so this maybe a stepping stone. The club formed this year and in the city where the current Phillipine President was Mayor for many years so maybe big things. 100 million people in Philippines so a massive market though basketball is favorite sport. Lastly, quite a few foreigners in the league and many have modeling contracts and get cast in tv shows and videos if you good looking..opportunities abound

Many of those Asian countries pay between US$2,500 to US$8,000 a month. And that often comes with housing including.
Pro League salaries are usually between TT$2,500 and TT$8,000 a month with the rare player making TT$10,000 or TT$12,000 per month.

Even some of the big money ex-Premiership players suffer financially because of the huge drop in salary after you quit. Because they aren’t equipped for a job that earns anything close to as much as they were earning before as a player.
Definitely hope they put away what they can.

Sometimes the biggest issues for footballers are relatives, friends and girlfriend/wife who think a small move means they’re earning as much as Messi and feel they don’t have to work anymore or that they all deserve a monthly allowance.
I wish I was joking. Poor kids often try their best and often end up in financial trouble.

While understanding this bredda will be earning a paycheck — it has to be higher than he’s earning at Central! — I can’t help but — always — wonder how come these fellahs end up going to these obscure leagues! Did I just read that he’s probably the BEST in the league this past season?? And that’s where he ends up, the friggin Phillippines???

I’d say he was the best performer this season although not the best player in the league in terms of attributes. A decade ago, I think Mitchell would have made a lower league team in England or even a Scotland Premier League team very happy.
He has the engine and a terrific attitude. Sad that our players don’t have those kind of options anymore.

One thing for sure is that they changed the work permit law. And they made it much, much harder for players from smaller football nations to get it.
Another thing is the tv money just blew up over the last four years or so and that means Premiership is buying some of the best talent in the world. That has a trickle down effect on their lower leagues and makes it harder for us to get those clubs to take a gamble.
Just imagine Boucaud has a British passport and is playing in what is effectively their fifth division. That’s mind blowing.

The MLS treats Caribbean players without much respect still. Do you know Hughtun Hector was making more in Vietnam than Joevin Jones is making at Seattle Sounders?
And Hector had accommodation paid for by the club while Joevin would still have to pay rent, etc.
It is easier culturally to move to the US and you’re nearer to home and the standard is better and so on. But you might earn more in places like Vietnam and Thailand.
Some countries like Finland paid local players between 900 and 1,500 Euros and when you consider cost of living in those places, you know it can be a tight squeeze.
Still, most countries see about accommodation for players except the English speaking nations. There is apparently less love for employees in places like the US and the UK. They give you a salary and the rest is up to you as far they are concerned
Anyway, the US teams DO have the money. So hopefully when you show your worth, then you can try to push for a raise. I’m sure Kenwyne Jones and Kevin Molino are on good contracts.

Yes lasana everything you explained is so accurate and have been going on for years now. And one of sad point is most of our players go to the Indian I – league but non of them cannot have a contract in their Indian football premier League where they invites all the world known over the hill football stars.

Yeah. A decade ago, Pro League players got between TT$4,000 and TT$15,000 and clubs had enough money to bring players from South America and the best from the Caribbean. So the league was much stronger and guys like Aurtis Whitley and Cyd Gray could step off the Pro League field and compete with top players from big nations.
Once the Pro League isn’t financially strong, we have a problem.

1 week agoby wired868Craaaack! Trinbago Knight Riders opener Sunil Narine breaks his bat while attacking a delivery during CPL T20 action against the Jamaica Tallawahs at the Queen's Park Oval on 9 August 2017. Narine scored 23 off 11 balls but the Tallawahs won by four wickets. #rblincpl#bankingallrounder#cpl17 Photo: Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868

5 days agoby wired868It’s a bird… It’s a plane… A super fan cheers for the Trinbago Knight Riders during CPL action against Barbados Tridents at the Queen’s Park Oval on 12 August 2017. #rblincpl#bankingallrounder#cpl2017 Photo: Sean Morrison/Wired868

1 week agoby wired868Horn section! Trinidad and Tobago cricket fans cheer on their team during CPL T20 action against between the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Jamaica Tallawahs at the Queen's Park Oval on 9 August 2017. #rblincpl#bankingallrounder#cpl17 Photo: Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868

15 hours agoby wired868Ouuuuut!! Trinbago Knight Riders bowler Kevon Cooper (centre) runs out St Kitts and Nevis Patriots batsman Mohammad Hafeez during CPL action at the Queen’s Park Oval on 14 August 2017. TKR won by four wickets as they finished with 161 for 6 in the highest run chase of the season. Photo: Sean Morrison/Wired868

5 days agoby wired868Crack shot! Trinbago Knight Riders’ Sunil Narine goes on the attack with the bat during CPL action against Barbados Tridents at the Queen’s Park Oval on 12 August 2017. Narine scored 79 runs in a two wicket win for the Knight Riders. #rblincpl#cpl2017 Photo: Sean Morrison/Wired868

5 days agoby wired868Why so serious hoss?! Barbados Tridents captain Kieron Pollard shares a stern look during CPL action against Trinbago Knight Riders at the Queen’s Park Oval on 12 August 2017. The Knight Riders won by two wickets. #rblincpl Photo: Sean Morrison/Wired868